Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 352 - 239: Embrace (3)_2

Chapter 352: Chapter 239: Embrace (3)_2

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"Wow, Thainan set meal, my favorite kind of rice bowl." Mentor Amei Teiselk plopped down next to Logan, "Hey, your cousin seems alright."

"About that, it’s a long story..." After Malin brought all the food over, he explained again, and Mentor Amei Teiselk blinked, "So, you’re saying that among those five little bastards, four were double-crossers?"

"What’s a double-crosser?" Since it was a Thainan term, Logan and Cohen couldn’t understand at all, but Malin did. He couldn’t help but lament that although the world and eras were different, some phrases were still universally understood.

"It means traitor, but considering your actual identity... let’s just say that among the five of you, only that unlucky guy was doing the right thing. The rest of you were either there for the spectacle or holding him back." Mentor Amei Teiselk shook his head as he said this, "That kid’s entire family died, do you think he’s really the kind of person who wants you dead?"

"Not sure, but I’ve heard His Majesty say that none of the departments have any records about his identity, so it’s very likely that he genuinely wanted me dead." Malin sighed. Actually, among the five brats, he had a soft spot for Zhao Konghe, who shared a Chinese surname like his. It was just a pity, if it weren’t for the outcome.

But regardless, the incident ultimately went the way Malin wanted. At least he knew that although some people in this city disliked him, there were also those who liked him.

Lady Manli being stopped by His Majesty this time proved it.

"By the way, I heard that several Dukes will be at the arena today," Mentor Amei Teiselk mentioned to Malin while eating his meal heartily, "They are all high-ranking Transcendents of their respective Sequences. Watching their battles should be very enlightening for you."

"Thank you," Malin said with a smile.

"Don’t be polite with me, kid. I like clear-cut kids like you," Mentor Amei Teiselk replied with a laugh.

After lunch, Logan and his cousin went into the kitchen to start cleaning—don’t think that noble children don’t do this. Any child serving as an Apprentice in the Church, whether noble or commoner, must learn to do these things for themselves. Even the dining hall had a class of students take turns doing dishwashing duties each week.

Mentor Amei Teiselk sat at the table, seeming somewhat unhappy. Malin felt it was necessary to ask him, "Mentor, you seem a bit down. Is there a problem?"

"Ah... Anyway, now that it’s just you and your little girlfriend, the problem lies with my idiot brother. He’ll also be there this afternoon, accompanying a few young people from the Church... I’m thinking, if possible, remember to give him a good beating for me."

"Do you have a grudge against your brother?" Malin asked curiously, since it wasn’t common these days for a younger brother to ask someone to beat up his older brother.

"Ha, he was born a day before me and ended up with everything: my father’s title, my mothers’ affection, the girls’ smiles, even my sisters liked him better, while I could only come to the Church to become a mentor..." Mentor Amei Teiselk sighed, "I’m not asking you to kill or cripple him, just that beating him up would make me feel a little better because I... could never beat him."

This was too real. Malin smiled helplessly and finally nodded, "If it’s just giving him a beating, that’s no problem. I want to have an aboveboard competition with various Transcendents. If I come across your brother, I will definitely take him down a notch for you."

"Thanks, you know, I’ve actually come to terms with it over the years. After all, being a noble isn’t really my thing. Looking after children suits me better. It’s just that when I think of the past, I feel very unhappy... like there’s a blockage in my heart. As a child, I could only watch my brother receive all the love, as a teenager I wasn’t liked by girls, and as I grew older, I was forced to come to Carterburg to become a mere mentor. I couldn’t even fulfill my dream of becoming a Tech Hunter, my whole life has been muddled through without achieving any dreams..."

Mentor Amei Teiselk lit a cigarette for himself, his soliloquy making Malin feel as if he were seeing another version of himself.

"I understand you, but Mentor Kwasel, why don’t you confront him yourself?" Malin looked at Mentor Amei Teiselk and asked.

He could feel the man’s frustration, but Malin believed it wasn’t his place to help. Some things, as a man, must be faced alone.

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"I said I can’t beat him, I’ve never been able to beat him since I was a kid," Mentor Ametselk said with a face full of melancholy.

"But Mentor Quasell, if saying you can’t beat someone is your excuse, then... you’ll never be able to defeat him in your lifetime," Malin patted his shoulder, "In life, one must challenge oneself, if you always think this way, then your life will be ruled by your nightmares forever, and you won’t even be able to resist."

Mentor Ametselk turned to look at Malin, "I really feel... like you’re my brother, because he also used to say that."

"Actually, doesn’t this prove even more that he actually wants you to face him one day?" Malin looked at the middle-aged man, "Mentor Quamell, go ahead, even if you fall on the stage, use your own hands to resolve this feud, solve everything like a man."

"...You’re right, Malin," Mentor Ametselk reached out and patted Malin’s shoulder, "I will face him."

At this, the middle-aged man sighed and chuckled, "I never imagined that I would be so persuaded by a child like you."

"Mr. Malin has always been like this, considerate, and gentle," Clovis said with a smile.

Malin smiled and accepted Clovis’s praise, and Mentor Ametselk also nodded, "Clovis, you’re right, although much younger than me in age, Malin’s mentality really isn’t like a child’s, but rather like a man’s, who has been through the storm and yet always keeps his passion."

Hearing this praise, Malin smiled awkwardly, "I just feel, Mentor, like you’re trapped in a nightmare, a dream that lasted quite a long time, but it should also be over now. Even if you can’t beat your brother, you have to learn to confront him, when you stand up there to face him, you may not be able to defeat him, but just by standing on that stage, you will have defeated yourself."

"Thank you," Mentor Ametselk slapped Malin’s arm forcefully, "I should face all this now, how about right now?"

"Let’s wait for them to finish washing the dishes; I heard they wanted to make a hefty profit off me."

"Alright then, after all, you’ve said that robbing someone of their livelihood is like killing their parents. I don’t want these two kids to hold a grudge against me."

After speaking, Mentor Ametselk took out a cigarette, "Smoke?"

Malin was about to take the cigarette when he heard Clovis let out a slightly dissatisfied hum.

So he withdrew his hand and shook his head, "Thanks, I don’t smoke."

"I’ve seen you smoke before," Mentor Ametselk looked at Malin.

"Clovis doesn’t like the smell of smoke on me, so as of today, I’m quitting," Malin replied.

Mentor Ametselk was silent for a while, then stood up and walked to the window nearby; the middle-aged man with a worried face lit up his cigarette, feeling sorrowful before the suddenly falling summer rain.

Clovis looked at Malin with a blushing face, "You really quit smoking."

"Of course, when have I ever lied to you guys?" Malin said decisively to the Bunny Girl in front of him.